Seven Years Old and Certified: The Quiet Death of the Kite

(6 mins read)

How a government protected a beloved tradition — by quietly making sure nobody could practice it anymore.


The notice arrived on a Tuesday. It was not a ban. The government was very clear about that.

It was a Kite Welfare and Safety Regulation Framework. Four pages. The word "ban" appeared exactly zero times. What appeared instead were phrases like age-verified aerodynamic certification and phased compliant. The Ministry of Kite Welfare wanted everyone to know: this was a protective measure for the kites.

The kites, apparently, had been suffering.

Rule One: Only kites aged seven years or older may be flown

A kite is made of paper and bamboo. It is not wine. It does not improve with age. Leave a kite in a shed for seven years and what you get is not a vintage kite - it's torn paper and bent sticks that will fly for about four seconds before quietly falling apart over a neighbour's roof.

The kite sellers of the old city: families who had run the same small shops for three or four generations read the notice twice. Then a third time. Then they looked at each other.

"Seven years?" said one.

"Seven years," said the other.

There was a long silence. That silence said everything.

Rule Two: Every kite needs a certificate. Getting one is nearly impossible.

To fly a kite legally, you now needed a Certified Airworthiness Certificate. Fair enough: except that there were only three certified Kite Welfare Officers in the entire state. One was in the capital. One was on medical leave. The third had retired, and nobody had replaced him.

To get your kites certified, you had to travel to the capital, pay a certification fee equal to roughly 40% of your monthly income, wait fourteen weeks for an appointment, and arrange your own travel and stay.

The Official Rules at a Glance

Rameez sold kites from a cart near the railway station. He supported his mother and two younger sisters on that income. He did the math. The certification trip alone would cost him more than he made in two months. The wait was fourteen weeks. The fines for flying without a certificate were fatal.

So Rameez stopped selling kites. Not because anyone told him to. Because the alternative was financial ruin dressed up in paperwork.

Rule Three: The string is also illegal. Sort of.

Kite string now had to come from a "certified domestic manufacturer." Imported string was banned - to protect the local industry, the government said. A nice idea, except there was not a single certified domestic string manufacturer. The certification process for them was still being written. Timeline: under review.

So the string that kite fliers had used for decades - the same string their parents used, wound into spools and sold from the hooks of a thousand small shops - became, without anyone saying so directly, illegal to use. The Ministry called it "non-compliant material." The fines for using it were enormous and very real.

The string sellers quietly shut down. Some switched to selling rope. The older ones just sat in front of their closed shops and didn't say much.

The one place you could legally fly a kite

There was one open Kite Recreation Zone. It was 43 kilometres from the city. Accessible by one bus — which ran on alternate Tuesdays - and then an auto-rickshaw that charged whatever it felt like. The Zone itself was a small rectangle of government land surrounded by a chain-link fence. There was a sign. There was also a padlock on the gate, and nobody in the local government knew where the key was. The matter, they said, was being looked into.

The children of the city, who had grown up running on rooftops with string cutting into their fingers and their eyes on a sky full of color, slowly stopped doing that. There was nowhere left to go.

Who actually got hurt

The obvious answer is kite sellers. But the kite economy was a small, quiet world with many people in it.

There were bamboo cutters in three villages who supplied the thin strips for kite frames. Demand disappeared in one season. There were the paper makers - the ones who made the particular thin paper that no other trade really used. The string winders. The cart pullers who moved stock to festivals. The tea stall owners near the flying grounds who sold chai to people waiting for a good wind. None of these people had done anything wrong. They had simply been part of something ordinary, and now ordinary had become a compliance problem.

It was not, technically, a ban. It was simply that doing the thing had become indistinguishable from not doing the thing - except the fines were very real.

The twist nobody talked about

About eighteen months after the regulations came into effect, a group of large, well-funded companies quietly applied for - and received - National Kite Production Licenses. They were the first to successfully navigate the certification process. The Ministry announced this as proof that the system was working.

These companies did not sell kites in the country. The domestic market was, in the words of their investor documents, "operationally constrained." Instead, they exported. Within two years, the country's kites - made in factories, certified in bulk - were being sold at a large markup in European gift shops and artisan markets. The marketing called them authentic, handmade cultural artefacts.

In the old city lanes where kite sellers used to be, there were now other shops.

What the government kept saying

The government had not banned kites. This was technically true. You could fly a kite - as long as it was seven years old, had a valid certificate, used approved string, and was flown in a licensed zone. Completely legal. Completely available. Completely impossible.

And the government was proud of the country's growing kite export market. A sign of culture reaching the world. A sign of tradition becoming industry. Whether the people who built that tradition - on rooftops, with cheap string and paper thin enough to see sunlight through - had any place in this success story was a question nobody in a glass building seemed to be asking.

The old man on the terrace

The last time I saw someone fly a kite in the city, was at dusk. An older man on a terrace three buildings down. A worn kurta. A kite that was definitely not certified. String that was definitely not compliant. A rooftop that was definitely not a licensed zone.

He flew it with the calm ease of someone who had done this for fifty years and found the paperwork argument unpersuasive.

A child next door watched him with the kind of attention children give to things they sense are disappearing.

Somewhere below, in an air-conditioned office, someone was probably drafting the next amendment. The fines were being doubled. The certification process was being "streamlined." There was talk of an app.

The kite caught the last light and held it. The old man laughed at a sudden gust, made a small adjustment with his wrist - the kind you can only learn over decades, the kind no certificate can measure, and the kite steadied, and climbed.

It is not banned. The sky is completely free.

___________________________________________________________________________

This is a work of allegory. Any resemblance to actual regulations, closed supply chains, or mysteriously padlocked recreation zones is a coincidence the author is too tired to argue about.

Moon Sighting, Not Moon Fighting: How Muslims Balance Tradition and Technology

(4 mins read)

image generated by using a feature in ChatGPT

Every year, around the beginning of Ramadan or Eid, the same question returns.

“Why are Muslims still looking for the moon?”

In an age of satellites, telescopes, and advanced astronomical software, the idea of physically sighting the moon might seem puzzling, even primitive, to some observers.

But the story is more nuanced.

Moon sighting in Islam is not simply an astronomical question. It sits at the intersection of astronomy, jurisprudence, tradition, and spirituality.

To understand it properly, we need to step back and examine the principles behind it.

1. The Lunar Calendar: A system anchored in nature

Islam follows a pure lunar calendar.

Each month begins with the appearance of the new crescent moon (hilal). A lunar month lasts either 29 or 30 days, depending on when the crescent becomes visible.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained this clearly:

“Fast when you see it (the new moon) and break your fast when you see it, and if the sky is cloudy for you, then complete thirty days.”

This simple instruction forms the foundation of Islamic timekeeping.

If the moon is sighted → the new month begins.
If it is not visible → the previous month completes 30 days.

There is no ambiguity in the rule.

2. Islamic law is built on observable reality

Islamic rulings often rely on clear, observable signs rather than complex calculations.

The Prophet ﷺ even described the early Muslim community in a striking way:

"We are an illiterate nation; we neither write, nor know accounts. The month is like this and this, i.e. sometimes of 29 days and sometimes of thirty days."

This statement was not a rejection of knowledge or science. Rather, it established an important legal principle:

Religious obligations should remain accessible to everyone.

A farmer in a desert, a traveler on a caravan route, or a modern scientist, all can determine the start of the month in the same way: by observing the sky.

3. Why astronomical calculations alone are not the basis

Modern astronomy can estimate the timing of the new moon using complex calculations and models. However, these predictions are ultimately probabilistic in nature. Because Islamic rulings are tied to observable signs, the start of the month is linked to the actual sighting of the crescent rather than relying solely on calculated projections.

These are two different things.

The new moon occurs when the moon aligns between Earth and the Sun. At that moment, the moon is actually invisible from Earth.

The crescent appears later, sometimes 15–24 hours after the new moon, depending on:

• latitude
• horizon conditions
• moon altitude
• atmospheric clarity
• local geography

Because of these variables, the moon may be visible in one region but not another.

This explains why moon sightings can legitimately differ across locations.

Just as people pray Fajr at different times across the world due to sunrise variations, lunar visibility also varies geographically.

4. Differences in sighting do not mean division

Observers sometimes interpret different Ramadan start dates as a sign that the Muslim community is divided.

In reality, Islamic jurisprudence has long recognized local moon sightings.

Classical scholars discussed whether a sighting in one land applies to another. Some jurists accepted global sightings, while others held that each region follows its own observation.

A narration from early Islamic history illustrates this. When a companion reported that the moon had been seen in Syria, the scholar Ibn Abbas in Madinah replied that they would continue fasting until their own sighting or completion of thirty days, following the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ.

This shows that regional differences were known and accepted even in the earliest generations.

5. Authority and community consensus

Islamic practice also emphasizes communal order.

Moon sightings are typically verified by:

• reliable witnesses
• official moon sighting committees
• recognized religious authorities

Once the announcement is made by the community leadership or majority, the matter is considered settled.

Islamic scholars emphasize that individuals should follow the decision of their local community to maintain unity and avoid unnecessary disputes.

In other words:

The goal is not for every individual to independently verify the moon.

The goal is collective clarity.

6. Moon sighting as an act of worship

There is also a subtle spiritual dimension.

Sighting the crescent is not merely administrative; it is a moment of devotion.

Generations of Muslims have stepped outside after sunset, scanning the western horizon for the thin arc of light that signals the beginning of a sacred month.

There are even supplications traditionally recited when the new moon appears.

7. The role of astronomy today

Astronomy still plays an important role.

Calculations help determine:

• when the moon cannot possibly be seen
• when sighting is likely
• where visibility may occur

In this sense, calculations act as a guide or probability indicator.

But the final confirmation traditionally remains actual sighting.

Calculation informs! Observation confirms!

8. The simplicity of the system

Perhaps the most elegant feature of the Islamic lunar calendar is its simplicity.

There are only two possible outcomes:

• 29 days if the moon is seen

• 30 days if it is not

No leap years.
No complex adjustments.

Just the sky.

This simplicity was intentional. Islam repeatedly emphasizes removing unnecessary hardship in religious practice, and the lunar calendar reflects that philosophy.

Final Reflection

From the outside, moon sighting may appear outdated.

But when viewed within its proper context, it reveals something deeper.

It is a system designed to be:

• universal
• accessible
• observable
• spiritually meaningful

It anchors sacred time not in bureaucratic systems but in the natural order of the heavens.

Every month begins the same way it did fourteen centuries ago:

A few people look toward the western horizon.

And if the crescent appears, a new chapter of time quietly begins.

Resource

• Toward a globally lunar calendar
• Hijri Month Determination in Southeast Asia
• Gulf-Times's post
• Visibility of Ramadan's Crescent - 1419 H
• The Problem with “Calculations Say Sighting Was Im0possible”
• Predicting new crescent moon visibility applying machine learning algorithms
• Sunnah.com - Book of Fasting
• An Islamic Legal Analysis of the Astronomical Determination of the Beginning of Ramadan
• muslimpro.com What If The Hilal is Not Visible in All Areas?
• Islamic Rules and Basis for Determining the Beginning and End of Ramadaan
• Beginning of Ramadan is by sighting the Moon
• A Different Perspective on the Moon Sighting - Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
• Moon Sighting Molana Taqi Usmani

Among the Sacred Cities, I Collected Scents and Memories

(4 mins read)

If you ever ask my friends what gift I like the most, they will tell you two things: books or ittar.

I have always loved scented oils. There is something very personal and soulful about them. A small bottle can hold so much character, so much memory. Memories from Kolkata, from Bangalore and currently from different places in Hyderabad. I already had a small collection at home, but after my recent Umrah trip in January 2026, that small collection has now grown into something much bigger.

During my Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah, my only intention was to make the most of my visit to the holiest place in Islam. I wanted to focus on prayers, reflection, and gratitude. But as the days passed, another thought slowly entered my mind that I should take something special back home. Not just as a souvenir, but as a memory. Dates were obvious. And then, of course… perfumes.

Now, Saudi ittar is world famous. When it comes to concentrated scented oils, the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, makes some of the finest in the world. French perfumes are popular too, especially the spray ones. But technically speaking, they are different. French perfumes are usually alcohol-based sprays like Eau de Parfum or Eau de Toilette. They project more, spread faster in the air, and are often lighter in feel. Ittar, on the other hand, is oil-based. It is concentrated, alcohol-free, and sits closer to the skin. It lasts longer and evolves slowly over time. It feels deeper, warmer, more intimate.

My uncle had already been to Makkah before, so he had some idea about what to buy. My younger brother and I were the curious ones. We contacted a friend who works in Masjid al Haram (lucky him!). He came along with his friend and guided us on what to look for in perfumes. He personally liked “Ranan” and “Ilbrince” from the Majed Al Oudh brand. He also took us around the area near the Haram.

And what an experience that was.

There are so many malls around Masjid al Haram. Every alternate shop is a perfume shop: Oud Elite, Ajmal, Arabian Oud, Rose Perfumes, Al Haramain, Surrati, Ahmed Perfumes, Al Majed, Osma… the list goes on. We tried so many fragrances. Honestly, very few instantly clicked. Sometimes the packaging was beautiful, but the fragrance was too strong. Sometimes it was nice, but too expensive. Choosing a perfume is such a personal thing.

Then we explored some local shops. We were mesmerised by the designs of the ittar bottles. Small 6 ml and 12 ml bottles, beautifully crafted, some with crystals, some with intricate patterns. Even the bottle felt like a souvenir. We spent hours trying different oils, testing them on our wrists, discussing notes, and shortlisting a few. But we decided not to rush. We were going to Madina next, so we thought we would explore the shops there before making final decision.

When we reached Madina, we were almost certain about one brand — Surrati. It felt right for us. Reasonable pricing, strong essence, and fragrances that suited our taste.

We searched on Google Maps and found a Surrati outlet very close to our hotel. Surrati is actually a heritage perfume house from Saudi Arabia. They are known for blending traditional oriental notes like oud, musk, amber, and florals with a slightly modern touch. They offer both concentrated oils (attar) and Eau de Parfum sprays. Their scents are usually deep and long-lasting, perfect for evenings or special occasions.

After trying many options, we finally bought three 100 ml bottles (Escape, Bakrat Rouje and Monte Blanc). These came in aluminium tin containers. From these, we have to refill smaller bottles for daily use. It may sound like extra work, but honestly, it was worth it.

Apart from that, we bought many smaller 12 ml bottles from different places:

• During ziyarat in Makkah and Madina, we bought Ameer Al Oud from guides who were introducing the historical places in the bus we hired.
• Outside Masjid e Qiblatain, we found some beautiful options.
• In Madina, we were so impressed by one guide’s ittar collection that we called him again and bought a full box of 24 pieces!
• At Lulu Mall near Masjid al Haram, we shortlisted one beautiful oud fragrance but didn’t get time to go back and buy it. Maybe next time, InshaAllah.
• On the second floor of Al Safa Tower near Makkah Clock Tower, we found a small shop with an amazing collection. We wanted smaller quantities of Surrati fragrances like Zamzam, Rawdah, Ehsas and others. The fragrances were truly mind-blowing.

Looking back, I realise it was not just about buying perfumes.

Each bottle now reminds me of a moment: walking near the Haram after prayer, exploring streets in Madina, sitting in the bus during ziyarat, discussing fragrances with my brother, debating over which one smells better. Every time I apply one of these ittars now, it takes me back there.

Umrah was, of course, a spiritual journey first. But these fragrances have become a beautiful extension of that journey. A scent has memory. And my home now carries the soft, warm memory of Makkah and Madina.

Maybe next time I go, I will come back with even more.

And if you are still wondering what to gift me… you know the answer. Books or ittar. 😊

One Evening Outside the Prophet’s Mosque

(4 mins read)

On that particular evening, after Isha namaz, we exited from gate 310 instead of 365.

We were in Madina last month. Anyone who has been there knows how many gates Masjid e Nabwi has. Each gate opens into a different world. For our family, Gate 365 had become our routine. We would meet there and exit from there because our hotel was straight ahead from that gate. It was simple and familiar.

That evening, we decided to change that habit. We said why not take gate 310 and explore a different path. We wanted to see the other side of the masjid. The pathways, the hotels, the shops, and the small museums outside. There was no hurry. We were happy and relaxed, just walking and taking it all in.

As we were moving along, an elderly aunty came up to us. She asked if we were going towards Masjid e Bilal, where our hotel was. We said yes, and she started walking with us. From gate 365, our hotel would be straight. But from gate 310, if you look at the map of the masjid, you have to walk diagonally to reach that side.

After walking for a bit, the aunty suddenly got confused. She realized that her hotel was not exactly near Masjid e Bilal. Fear took over her face. She told us she did not remember the name of her hotel. She did not want to call her son because she was afraid he would scold her. Her son was sick and had not traveled with her. She was in her late 60s, but her love for the Prophet was so strong that she still wanted to visit the Prophet’s mosque.

We tried convincing her to call her son. Finally, she did. But that did not help much. He was new to Madina too, and we were new as well. The directions were not clear, and none of us could figure out exactly where the hotel was.

I was with my full family. Elder parents, young kids, brothers, uncle, aunts, all of them. I could sense their discomfort. Keeping so many people waiting while solving one problem did not feel right. So I asked everyone to continue towards our hotel. I told them I would take the aunty alone and help her reach her son and the hotel.

I took her son’s number and called him. I asked him to share his live location on WhatsApp. That helped a lot. But by then, we had moved a bit far from her hotel. There was an underpass between us and the hotel. We had to walk ahead, cross the road, and then make a U-turn to come back. This made the walk feel longer.

The aunty kept saying this is not the route, the hotel is not this far. I kept calming her down. I told her again and again that we were on the right path. Her bag was not heavy, but she was also carrying her chair. It was difficult for her to walk and carry everything. I offered to carry both for her.

Slowly and steadily, we reached the location her son had shared. He was standing there waiting. The relief on his face said everything. He shook my hand and thanked me. The aunty gave me lots of blessings and duas. In that moment, my heart felt full.

But during all this, something else was happening. While I was crossing the road and talking to her son, my phone kept ringing. First, my wife called. Then my mom. Then my aunt. They all wanted to know where I was and how far I had reached. They were worried because it was night and I was alone. They were scared that this could be a scam. That someone could make up a story, take you to a secluded place, and rob you.

I was surprised, but not shocked. In today’s world, these fears are real. These perceptions have been built over time.

Still, it made me think. I am really intrigued and not convinced about how we as a human race have reached this point. We question and doubt so much before helping anyone. We ask many questions, and only rarely do we decide to help. I have seen it many times. People stand around, watching, but holding themselves back.

It reminded me of something from my college days. A friend and I were walking and trying to cross the road. Suddenly, we heard a scream. A man had been hit by a running bus. He was bleeding badly. A crowd gathered around him. He raised his hand, asking for help. No one moved.

My friend and I looked at each other. No words were needed. We called a taxi and took him to the hospital. We then called our eldest uncle who lived nearby. The first thing he said was, why did you do this. He did not mean it badly, but his concern was clear. He said there were so many people on the road, why did you take the initiative. Now you will have to answer police questions and deal with trouble.

This is the reality today. Many people step back from helping because of fear. Fear of questions, fear of authorities, fear of being blamed, or fear of scams. These reasons are real, but they should not stop us.

That night in Madina reminded me of this again. Sometimes helping someone may slow you down, worry your loved ones, or put you in an uncomfortable situation. But the peace you feel afterward is something else. And maybe, just maybe, that is what truly matters.

Dreams Do Come True, Prayers Do Get Answered

(5 mins read)

From 7th to 21st January 2026, Allah blessed me with the opportunity to perform Umrah with my family.

Seven days in Makkah, four days in Madina, and then two final days back in Makkah.

On paper, it was just a travel plan.
In reality, it was a quiet spiritual turning point.

This is not a guide on how to perform Umrah.
This is just my experience, how it felt, what changed inside me, and how Allah swt gently upgraded my heart.

When Allah Finally Calls

For almost six years, I carried a dream of taking my family - spouse, kids, and parents for Umrah.

Every time we tried, something delayed it. There were document issues for my Abbu, due to which his passport could not be generated. Then came COVID. After that, work commitments, family responsibilities, and one reason or another kept coming in between.

Over time, you begin to understand something very deep. It is not about planning. It is about destiny and what Allah swt has ordained and planned for you.

Only those whom Allah swt calls are able to go. When the call finally came, it felt less like we planned the journey and more like we were invited.

Taking Kids Along, Fear and Faith

Many people advised us against taking children. They said there is a lot of walking, the crowds are huge, kids can get lost, and it is physically exhausting.

We have three kids, 8 years old, 4 years old, and 1.5 years old, and we were worried. I know people meant well, but honestly, it was scary. Especially for my wife. She would often say, “Let’s postpone it till the kids grow older.” I had to keep reassuring her that we would manage and that Allah swt would make it easy.

We planned carefully, took precautions, and kept praying. Using safety straps for the children turned out to be one of our best decisions, especially on the ground floor and during the rush of Sa’i.

The First Time Seeing the Kaaba

The goosebumps started much earlier than expected.

After landing in Jeddah, we boarded the bus to Makkah late at night, around 1 AM. We were tired, but excitement kept us fully awake. As the bus moved closer, the clock tower slowly appeared on the horizon, glowing in all its glory. Those green LED lights felt majestic and comforting at the same time.

Even the air felt different. Breathing the air around Makkah itself felt special.

When we finally entered Masjid al-Haram, and my eyes fell on the Kaaba for the very first time, words simply disappeared. After I returned, my friends asked me how it felt to see the Kaaba for the first time. I told them I had no words to describe it. And honestly, I believe no words can do justice to that feeling. It can only be felt. The heart fills with humility, peace, and overwhelming gratitude. Standing there among millions, you still feel incredibly close to Allah ﷻ. It is emotional, calming, and deeply transformative.

Performing Umrah Together as a Family

We performed Umrah on 8th January 2026, around 10 AM, as a family.

Doing Umrah alone is powerful. Doing it with your parents, spouse, and children is something entirely different. It brings tears without warning and gratitude without limits.

Tawaf was a bit challenging due to overcrowding, especially near Hajar al-Aswad and Maqam Ibrahim. There was some unnecessary pushing, which momentarily breaks focus. But the holiness of the place is so immense that these moments fade away very quickly.

Children See It Differently

Our kids experienced Umrah in their own beautiful way. They were fascinated by the lights, the people, and the kindness around them. They would often receive lollipops and candies from strangers, though in Islam, there are really no strangers.

One day, they excitedly told us that they also wanted to distribute candies to other kids. And they did. Watching that innocence unfold in the holiest of places was a reminder of how pure faith really is.

Life in Makkah, A Different Rhythm

Life in Makkah revolves entirely around prayer.

On Fridays, people start preparing for Jumu’ah very early. Imagine a place where Jumu’ah is at around 12:30 PM, yet people bathe, dress, and leave for the Masjid al-Haram by 9 AM.

On the only Friday we were there, we left our hotel at 9:30 AM and were already worried. The last hotel bus had left, so we took a taxi. All the way, we kept praying, “O Allah, please let us pray Jumu’ah inside the Haram.” And Alhamdulillah, Allah answered.

Madina, Where the Heart Slows Down

Madina has its own charm.

If Makkah humbles you, Madina calms you. There is no rush. The heart naturally learns to stay still. After all, this is the city of the Prophet ﷺ, a place where companions were taught gentleness, humility, and to keep their voices low.

Even today, Madina teaches you how to behave, without saying a word.

in Masjid e Nabwi (Prophet's Mosque)

Learning, Ziarat, and Small Details

During our ziarat in both Makkah and Madina, I made a conscious effort to note important historical places. I pinned them in Google Maps so I could remember and revisit their stories later. It helped me connect history with faith in a very personal way.

Dates, Perfumes, and a Little Shopping Bag

And then there were the shops.

The varieties of dates, the perfumes and attars, the colors, and the fragrances were simply mesmerizing. I was honestly astonished. Spiritual elevation and shopping seem to coexist very peacefully in these cities.

Coming Back Changed

Every prayer felt deeper.
Every dua felt more sincere.

Even with the crowds, there was a calm that stayed with me, and it still does.

You return spiritually upgraded.
More sabr, more shukr, and yes, more shopping bags 😅

A Small Dua Before I End 🤲🕋

🌙 Masjid al-Haram is a place every believer longs for.

May Allah grant everyone the opportunity to visit again and again, with ease, patience, and peace.
Ameen.